Dictionary

vestal en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• (Southern-England) audio
• /ˈvɛs.t(ə)l/

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Latin Vestālis.

Meanings

1. (not-comparable) Of or pertaining to Vesta, the virgin goddess of the hearth.
2. (not-comparable) Pure; chaste.
   • Does money fail?—come to my mint—coin paper, Till gold be at a discount, and ashamed To show his bilious face, go purge himself, In emulation of her vestal whiteness. 1820, Percy Bysshe Shelley, Oedipus Tyrannus; Or, Swellfoot The Tyrant: A Tragedy in Two Acts:

Deriveds

vestalship · vestally

Translations (16)

bg девствен (pure; chaste) · ka უბიწო (pure; chaste) · cs neposkvrněný (pure; chaste) · ga veisteach (pure; chaste) · cs panenský (pure; chaste) · ru чи́стый (pure; chaste) · ga veisteach (of or pertaining to Vesta) · bg целомъдрен (pure; chaste) · nl vestaals (of or pertaining to Vesta) · ka ვესტალი (of or pertaining to Vesta) · ru посвящённый Весте (of or pertaining to Vesta) · ka უმანკო (pure; chaste) · ru непорочный (pure; chaste) · cs cudný (pure; chaste) · es vestal (pure; chaste) · es vestal (of or pertaining to Vesta)

vestal en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (Southern-England) audio
• /ˈvɛs.t(ə)l/

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Latin Vestālis.

Meanings

1. A virgin consecrated to Vesta, and to the service of watching the sacred fire, which was to be perpetually kept burning upon her altar; a vestal virgin.
2. A female virgin; a woman who has never had sexual relations.
3. A nun.

Forms

Deriveds

Drury Lane vestal · St. John's Wood vestal

Translations (7)

bg монахиня (nun) · eo virgulino (female virgin) · ru де́вственница (female virgin) · ota بكر (female virgin) · ru мона́хиня (nun) · es vestal (female virgin) · bg де́вственница (female virgin)